LANSING — The following is a statement in response to calls for Wayne Bradley, Michigan GOP state director of African American engagement, to resign for taking a stand against the removal of Confederate statues, the pardon of racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the right of Colin Kaepernick to kneel during the National Anthem.

“Wayne Bradley was wrong to misrepresent Donald Trump to the people of Michigan during the last election as a paid staffer for the Republican Party, but his statements about challenging the Republican Party are not wrong,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “It’s telling the party would pay a staffer to reach out to African Americans but then call for his resignation when he simply declares racism and white supremacy are problematic.”

A Republican spokesperson said in a story by the Detroit News that Bradley does not speak for the Party, yet GOP leadership has not addressed fundamental questions raised by the split in the Party.

As such, Progress Michigan believes it is incumbent upon Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser, Governor Rick Snyder, Lt. Governor Brian Calley and Attorney General Bill Schuette to tell the people of Michigan where they stand on Bradley’s statement on Kaepernick, Apairo and Confederate statues.

“Bradley’s statements have created a moment of truth for Republican leaders in Michigan. They can no longer pretend that issues such as racism, class, patriarchy and others do not exist or have been solved. The fact that the issues can’t be raised in the Party without white men feeling threatened speaks volumes about the MIGOP,” Scott continued. “We urge Mr. Bradley to do more than post his thoughts on social media – true leadership is walking away from his paid door knocking gig and working tirelessly with engaged activists to fix the damage he has helped cause with his support for and misrepresentation of Republican policies.”

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Progress Michigan is a first-of-its-kind organization. Our mission is to provide a strong credible voice that holds public officials and government accountable, assists in the promotion of progressive ideas and uses state-of-the-art web based new media to creatively build grassroots support for progressive ideas.